Bob - ProfilesArchive

About Me

I'm an Army Brat, born in Ft. Mead, Maryland and raised all over the world. At 15 I reached an early pinnacle in my career when I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, troop 501, Ft. Richardson, Alaska, under the capable leadership of Scoutmaster Staff Sergeant Dick Brogdon. Some of my favorite merit badges were: First Aid, Animal Husbandry and Pioneering. Lifesaving was a bit of a trial due to the condition of negative buoyancy caused by my hyper-lean physique, but I stuck it out and managed to pass the quarter-mile swim by relying mainly on the breast stroke.Upon my Dad, Col. Bob Christian, Sr.'s, retirement to the suburban wilds of Scottsdale, Arizona, I left Scouting behind for a brief flirtation with the Counter Culture. I'm grateful this phase passed with only a minumum loss of brain cells, thanks in large part to the poor quality of the irrigation-ditch pot available to high school kids in those pre-Sensemilla days. A stint in group therapy and a return to wholesome outdoor pursuits of the Outward Bound variety got me back on track, and I soon graduated with a double-major Associate's degree from Scottsdale Community College in - you guessed it - Pioneering and Animal Husbandry.Since those formative years, I've devoted myself to my own ongoing self-improvement program, making an effort every year to learn new skills that will make me a better prepared Scout, always ready to "Do a Good Turn Daily."As a Scoutmaster, Youth Leader and Educator, I feel it is of paramount importance that we train our boys and young men, the leaders of tomorrow, in the principles of Wholesome Living and Good Citizenship. My Public Access lecture series, "Guidelines for Wholesome Living and Good Citizenship for Boys and Young Men," represents my ongoing campaign to teach these oft-maligned values to a new generation of young people. In so doing, I hope to begin the rehabilitation of what cynics have referred to as a "Generation of Vipers" making them the new standard-bearers of America the Beautiful.

My Interests

Camping, folk singing, pipe collecting, whittling, knot tying, hiking, fishing. Helping young people to realize their goals while not impinging on the rights of others.

I'd like to meet:

First and foremost, my hero and number one role model, Ward Cleaver. Now, fellows, I hope you all know that I'm not so naive as to confuse Mr. Cleaver with the actor who so ably portrayed him, Hugh Beaumont. I'd love to meet them both, but unfortunately Mr. Beaumont passed from this mortal coil some years ago due to the unfortunate ingestion of a batch of Old Hickory pipe tobacco tainted with Paraquat. With his passing, America lost one of it's last truly wholesome and well-rounded youth leaders. RIP, Hugh.Next on my list of all-time greats would be Andy Griffith. Not "A Face in the Crowd" Andy Griffith, of course - a notorious libertine who came to a well-deserved bad end - but "Mayberry RFD" Andy Griffith. who still shines as an example to young fellows everywhere. Keep that slingshot holstered around Sheriff Andy, you little scalawags!No list of wholesome role models would be complete without Fred McMurray of "Follow Me, Boys!" fame, or Jimmy Stewart of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." Jimmy's goal of a boy's camp in a section of wild America destined for the developer's axe still stands as possibly the last well-intentioned legislative initiative since Abolition.

Music:

Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Tom Lehrer, The Smothers Brothers, Townes Van Zandt, Nancy Griffith, Robert Earle Keene, Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and my own valiant attempts to measure up to the greats while still maintaining a wholesome message.

Movies:

The collected works of John Ford and Walt Disney. Also John Candy, a man who in my view was never given his full measure of credit for the example he set for boys and young men. "Last of the Mohicans" was heroic - it depicted a protagonist who used his finely-honed Scouting skills to defeat his enemies and rescue the woman he loved, all while wearing moccasins. "The Patriot" gets high marks for Mel Gibson's skilled use of a tomahawk against his foes and for it's positive depiction of the American pioneering spirit. I particularly enjoyed how it showed our ability to use superior physical conditioning and Indian stalking skills to defeat the overconfident and snobbish Redcoats.

Television:

Nickolodeon reruns of "Leave it to Beaver," "Spin and Marty," "Dobie Gillis," "I Love Lucy" (an excellent example of a wholesome role model for both young fellows and young ladies, as well as the institution of Marriage). "Happy Days" gets a mention for humor, gritty realism and it's responsible portrayal of real teens dealing with almost overwhelming reproductive urges. One of the best documentaries I've seen.

Books:

First and foremost, The Boy Scout Handbook. Everything a young fellow needs to know about life and growing up is contained therein. Whether it's a good square lashing or first aid for a bee sting, the Handbook has it all. "Tom Sawyer" gets a close runner-up. Also "On the Road," by Jack Kerouac, though fellows under 18 should steer clear of this one. "The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway," although younger fellows ought to have their Dads read some of the racier stories with them in case they become aroused and need this condition explained to them.

Heroes:

My Dad, Colonel Bob Christian, Sr., Lord Baden Powell, Dick Brogdon, Chesty Puller, whoever invented khaki, Ward Cleaver. Honorable Mention: Bill Clinton pre-Monica, Dr. Marcus Welby, Mark Twain, Jack London, Ernest Hemingway, Tensing Norgay, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.